Which laboratory finding is listed as a negative prognostic indicator for parvo?

• A. Higher CRP
• B. Hypocholesterolemia
• C. Maintenance of WBC count
• D. Hyperglycemia

Answer: (A)

In canine parvovirus infection, the level of systemic inflammation tracked by C-reactive protein (CRP) serves as a strong negative prognostic indicator. CRP is an acute-phase protein produced by the liver in response to inflammatory cytokines; when the inflammatory burden is high, CRP rises. In parvo, a high CRP at presentation reflects more severe inflammation and a greater risk of complications like sepsis and organ dysfunction, which translates to worse outcomes. Clinically, CRP can also help monitor progress—typically, decreasing CRP with treatment suggests improvement, while persistently high or rising CRP signals ongoing trouble.

Hypocholesterolemia can occur with severe GI loss and malabsorption, and leukopenia is a common feature of parvo, but these factors are not as consistently predictive of prognosis as CRP. Hyperglycemia can happen with stress but isn’t as specific or reliable a marker of outcome in this context.